Sentinel Dome & Taft Point

At 8,122 feet, Sentinel Dome & Taft Point is a summit in California. The Sentinel Dome & Taft Point Loop covers 5.0 miles (loop) with about 500 feet of elevation gain — a gradual walk with modest climbing.

The Route

Most of the climbing comes early — the first half of the route does the bulk of the work before the grade eases. The steepest stretch arrives around mile 0.57, gaining roughly 1,900 feet per mile — expect a slow, deliberate pace through here. From the trailhead at about 4,000 feet, the route tops out near 4,536 feet. Along the way the route passes a viewpoint (Sentinel Dome Summit) near mile 1.1, a landmark (The Fissures) near mile 3.3, a viewpoint (Taft Point) near mile 3.5 — useful checkpoints for judging your pace.

Getting There

The trailhead is at 37.71246, -119.58658 (tap for driving directions). It's roughly 125 miles south of Reno, Nevada. Parking: Sentinel Dome Trailhead. Fee: $35 park entrance.

When to Go

Late May through October is the main season. Snow and ice linger into spring and return early in fall at this latitude and elevation; in winter this becomes a different, more serious undertaking requiring traction devices and warm layers.

Know Before You Go

The Easy rating comes from the National Park Service difficulty formula, which weighs total distance against elevation gain. Most hikers should budget about 3 hours of moving time; add margin for breaks, photos and the descent. Download the GPX track from this page before you go — cell coverage is unreliable in the mountains and a saved route works offline in any GPS app. Conditions change: verify current access, closures and weather with the official land manager before you go. Trail data is sourced from National Park Service - Yosemite.

Looking to link objectives or plan a weekend? Nearby summits include Half Dome and Clouds Rest — each has its own guide on this site.